Our Manifesto

Wednesday, 11 June 2014

Around 25
residents met at the Rising Sun beer garden last Sunday to celebrate the
phenomenal electoral result of Make Willesden Green at the May local elections
and to discuss ways of taking the collective energies of the group
forward. Coming runner-up in the election and beating the Tories
and LibDems shows that we represent a significant number of people in Willesden
Green and - with Labour's huge majority on the council - our independent voice
is now more important than ever: Make Willesden Green is
effectively the ‘official opposition’ in this area.

People expressed
different ideas on what Make Willesden Green can or should be. Some of the key
points raised included:

widen and deepen
our reach across the community so that Make Willesden Green looks more like the
neighbourhood it wants to represent

keep the
campaigning focus of the group, and hold our elected councillors to account

address issues and
include supporters from surrounding wards of Dudden Hill, Mapesbury and
Brondesbury Park, and make sure that Make Willesden Green connects all parts of
Willesden.

amplify other campaigns relevant to our area - from Brent
Housing Action to Save the Queensbury

After some
discussion, the following action points were also agreed:

To seek a
delegation at the earliest opportunity to the Council regarding the management
and community access to the new Cultural Centre

To monitor
Galliford Try profits from the library development and ensure the council
receives additional monies due to the inflated housing market

To investigate the
possibility of a street party to involve more people in Make Willesden
Green

To use the blog to
focus attention on the the key areas of improving the High Road/and public
spaces, promoting affordable and social housing, protecting our schools from
academisation and upholding local democracy.

The
excellent turn-out and continuing fighting spirit on display at our first
post-electoral meeting of Make Willesden Green bodes well for the group’s future
activities. This website will now act as an on-line clearing-house for
information on relevant events and activities. We have also set up an email
discussion group which you can join HEREor email makewillesdengreen@gmail.com and
we will add you directly. As a grassroots initiative the future
of Make Willesden Green relies entirely on resident’s collective
efforts – so please sign up and add your ideas,
expertise and energy to build an independent voice for Willesden residents.